29 January 2012

He was one of the most colourful characters ever to be involved in the S.League, becoming very much the public face of Bruneian side DPMM FC when they first entered the S.League in 2009.

Loud and brash on the field and off it, Vjeran Simunic grabbed headlines with a peppering of acts and quotes that sometimes bordered on the outrageous, and at one point he seemed all set to steer DPMM to the S.League trophy in their maiden year.

The chance to become the first foreign team to claim the title, however, was lost when Brunei was handed an international football ban by FIFA, the world governing body of the sport, for government interference in the operation of the Brunei Amateur Football Association (BAFA).

Two years later, that issue has been resolved, with BAFA now reformed under the name National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam, clearing the way for FIFA to lift the ban – and for DPMM to apply for a return to the S.League.

That created an opportunity for Simunic to return to the club as its coach for a second time, something which had always been on the cards even when he had left following DPMM’s enforced exit from the Singapore scene.

“I made a promise to the Crown Prince of Brunei that I will come back to complete the unfinished business – to revive DPMM and Bruneian football,” he said in a recent interview with sleague.com.

Pg Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah, eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, is incidentally also the chairman of DPMM, the only professional football team in Brunei.

Simunic candidly shared his thoughts what happened since 2009, a significant year for the oil-rich sultanate in terms of football.

The Bruneians, initially assumed to be nothing more than outsiders for the title, took the league by storm with their tough and uncompromising play that tore to shreds a long-standing image of the country being whipping boys of ASEAN football.

Under the former NK Zagreb goalkeeper, DPMM claimed the accolade of being the first foreign side to lift a trophy in Singapore’s professional football scene, beating powerhouse outfit SAFFC in the League Cup final that June on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

The achievement sparked off wild celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, when the team flew home and were greeted by an ecstatic reception from adoring fans at the airport.

The euphoria proved short-lived at the end of September due to the FIFA ban, and despite appeals from the Football Association of Singapore to let DPMM complete their campaign, Simunic and his charges were forced to forfeit their remaining five league games and had all previous records in the league expunged.

Only in May 2011 was that ban lifted, which allowed football life to resume in Brunei, and while the domestic scene was quickly revived, much of the attention was on getting DPMM up and playing overseas again.

That was secured earlier this month when FAS confirmed the return of the Wasps, as they are commonly known, at a ceremony at the Singapore Sports School, coinciding with Pg Muda Al-Muhtadee’s four-day state visit of Singapore.

But two years’ worth of stagnation has made the task tough for the coming season, according to Simunic.

Not only have some of the hardier players like Sallehuddin Damit and Rene Komar moved on, the lack of serious football for more than 20 months means the likes of Rosmin Kamis, Shahrazen Said and Azwan Salleh will find themselves propping up a team in need of new talent.

This, even as the S.League continues to see several teams like Home United and Tampines Rovers grow from strength to strength.

“It’s much tougher now compared to 2009,” commented the 55-year-old.

“The last two years saw the S.League improving in terms of standard of play. Meanwhile Bruneian football is lagging behind because of the ban.

“One of the priorities for me now is to groom a core of local players that would complement the foreign players we signed, which I think is crucial if the team’s to perform well.”

One of the signings for DPMM this season is Ivan Jerkovic, who was first introduced to the S.League scene in the colours of the Bruneian outfit after playing for Indonesia’s Pelita Jaya.

Jerkovic moved to SAFFC following DPMM’s expulsion from the S.League, but decided to reunite with his fellow Croatian after two years of fine service for the Warriors.

Other foreigners who will pull on the red and black jersey include Brazilians Rodrigo Gral and Tales dos Santos, as well as 22-year-old Ghanaian forward Osman Bashiru, who once played for Israeli outfit Hapoel Petah Tikva.

By far the most important foreigner in the team, however, is the coach, who has been keeping himself busy in Southeast Asia and waiting for the chance to return to Brunei.

“I am pleased with what I have seen so far since we began our training three months ago,” said Simunic.

“And all this would not have been made possible if not for Ho Chi Minh City FC, who allowed me to exercise the release clause stipulated in my initial two-year contract with them.”

The Vietnamese First Division club had agreed on the clause in 2010, when Simunic signed to become their coach.

Under that clause, he would be free to go back to DPMM if and when they should return to the S.League.

That it has now happened is welcome news for FAS advisor Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee, who commented at the contract signing ceremony that the presence of DPMM is ‘pivotal’.

“The return of DPMM to the S.League provides a platform for local teams to play in front of a crowd of 10,000 in Bandar Seri Begawan,” said Assoc Prof Ho, who acknowledged the opportunity would be hard to find here in Singapore without a stadium of similar size.

“It serves as part of an ecosystem to allow Singaporean players to play, week in and week out. And through football, it also helps to foster the relationship between Brunei and Singapore.”

DPMM are already in the final stages of their pre-season preparations, having beaten Thai outfit Chiangrai United 2-1 in their first friendly spar recently.

Their opening S.League game will see them host reigning champions Tampines Rovers in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd at the 30,000-seater Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.

DPMM had never beaten Tampines in the S.League in 2009, having lost once and drawn twice with the Stags, so Simunic would appreciate the difficulty of facing Steven Tan’s hungry charges.

With some unfinished business to settle, though, the Croatian will be eager to announce his return in his typical dramatic way.

THE country's 18-man squad for the Feb 25-March 9 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) will be made public in a matter of days.

A total of 25 players have been training for the competition since August, and with a record 11 teams involved, organisers are spending nearly $1.7 million to make sure the tournament runs smoothly.

Gearing up to be the biggest football event the country has organised in years, the Sultanate's team list for the biennial competition for Under-21 teams in the region has been a closely guarded secret.

Not for long though.

"The 18-player list will be out by Feb 1 (Wednesday)," said the team's manager Hj Feisal Hj Eusoff yesterday.

"We are hoping for full support from the media, public and all concerned parties to make the HBT a success," added Hj Feisal during an informal meeting with the Press.

Also present at the meeting at the Conference Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas were head coach Kwon Oh-son and his assistant Hj Mohd Rosanan Abdullah Samak.

Hosted biennially by Brunei, the competition for ASEAN countries which all member nations plus Timor Leste have confirmed their participation allows each team to bring five overage players, though only three can be fielded in each match.

It is understood Kwon has already picked four such players striker Adi Said, defender Reduan Hj Petara as well as midfielders Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris and Mohd Najib Hj Tarif all of whom saw action for the Sultanate at last November's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta.

This year is the first time the tournament includes overage players, with the previous three meets in 2002, 2005 and 2007 strictly limited to Under-21 players.

The aim of yesterday's meeting was to find ways to promote the HBT which is the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, who desired that an Under-21 football tournament be organised with the aim of increasing friendship and understanding between Southeast Asian youth through sports.

His Majesty is expected to grace the opening ceremony while His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, is slated to officiate at the closing ceremony.

Though all 11 countries have confirmed their entries, as of Tuesday the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) were still waiting for Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia to finalise their 18-player list.

Three of the country's biggest stadiums, all in Berakas, will play host to the two-week football extravaganza. Apart from the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, the Berakas Sports Complex and Balapan Track & Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex will also be used.

Though the tournament has been hosted in Brunei three times, the Sultanate has yet to reach the semi-finals.

Brunei played in the M-League (then known as the Semi-Pro League) from 1989 to 1993 and won the 1999 Malaysia Cup by shocking Sarawak 2-1 at the Merdeka Stadium the country's defining moment in football and a match which still lives on in the memories of many local football fans.

Though the national team pulled out of the M-League in 2008, Brunei in the form of DPMM FC proved to be a revelation in their debut Singapore League (S-League) campaign in 2009 by clinching the Singapore League Cup.

DPMM FC are in the final stages of preparation for the 2012 S-League season which kicks off next month but there has been no talk about Brunei sending a team to participate in either the top-flight Malaysian Super League or Malaysian Premier League.

Singapore and Malaysia already have a strong interest in each other's football leagues so it wouldn't be too much to ask to see Brunei in the fray.

Harimau Muda (Malaysian Under-23 team) are playing in this season's S-League and the Young Lions (Singaporean Under-23 team) in this season's M-League, a move which has attracted an encouraging response from fans of both nations and one which would no doubt have the same feedback if Brunei is allowed the opportunity to follow suit.

Speaking on the possibility of being represented in the M-League, an NFABD official said that though the FAM has yet to approach them, the doors to their office in NFABD House would always be open.

"So far there hasn't been any approach yet (but) anything is possible," said the official.

"Each case is to be looked at separately based on its merit.

"Our focus is on our own local league (DST-National Football League) but of course participation overseas is also important for experience and exposure," said the official.

The official went on to cite Brunei's participation at next month's Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy and last year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games as prime examples of such overseas tournaments.

NFABD was also optimistic about the idea of a proposed Southeast Asian (Asean) Super League when the Asean Football Federation (AFF) revealed it had appointed a sub-committee to look into its viability last June.

"Whatever the AFF organises, as much as we can we will try to be involved and participate. The AFF organises a lot of tournaments and gives its members the opportunity to host them," an NFABD official then said.

"Brunei like to participate, but again, it depends on our capability ... (and) the conditions. It depends on how the tournament is organised, for example. If the invite comes to us early ... If we think it is worth it for us to participate, we will," added the official.

Ahmad Shabery speaking on the sidelines of a golf friendly with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in the Malaysian capital told Bernama that cooperation in sports not only involves government to government, but also between sports associations of both countries.

Pehin Dato Hj Hazair said his visit would help strengthen ties between the two ministries after signing a memorandum of understanding in Brunei last year.

"We have identified several areas in youth and sports that could be developed and expanded to strengthen our ties," Pehin Dato Hj Hazair told Bernama.

The visit was a reciprocation of the one that Ahmad Shabery paid to Brunei in July, where the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on youth and sports.

One of the areas which the two countries agreed to work on was exchange of expertise, and though it was their first MoU in the field, excellent cooperation between the two countries has always been a hallmark of the nations' relationship.The Brunei Times

The DPMM FC coach was among the first in the country to hear his team would open their Singapore League (S-League) season against defending champions Tampines Rovers FC their last opponents before they were forced to leave the league in 2009 because of FIFA's suspension on the Sultanate, which has now been lifted.

The match, which might be set for Feb 9 at a venue yet to be confirmed, was announced during Thursday night's S-League season launch at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, which, according to ESPN, featured a fixture draw for the first time in the competition's 16-year history.

"Well ... We got the best of the best!" exclaimed Simunic yesterday.

"I don't know whether it's a good thing to play the strong teams first maybe sometimes it's better that way.

"We will be preparing hard this week then turn it down next week," added the Croatian who guided DPMM FC to the Singapore League Cup in 2009, making them the first foreign side to lift the trophy.

DPMM FC's first meeting with the Stags on April 3, 2009, ended in a 1-1 draw at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore while the second on July 10, 2009, saw the hosts record a 2-1 win at the same venue. The third, which was their last game before they were forced to pull out of the S-League with just four games left in their debut season, was a 2-2 draw at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Sept 29, 2009.

Despite the results Simunic believed the team shouldn't be taking anything for granted especially since they have not played a competitive game since the 2-2 stalemate.

"During our three games against them we drew twice and lost once," Simunic pointed out.

"They have developed a lot over the years and they have really reinforced their teams with new imports.

"We go into the competition (S-League) with just one serious game, but I'm always prepared for anything," said the coach, referring to DPMM FC's biggest pre-season test, a 2-1 win over Thai Premier League side Chiangrai United FC at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last week.

With Tampines taking to the Jalan Besar Stadium next Sunday for the Charity Shield against 2011 RHB Singapore Cup champions Home United, Simunic said the chance the curtain-raiser provided him to scout the Stags out was one not to be missed.

Tampines beat Home United to the 2011 S-League title by a single point and the clash against their rivals is shaping up to be one which S-League fans and the wily coach will not want to miss.

"Absolutely! I will need to go to Singapore to watch them play the Charity Shield first," said Simunic.

"I heard they have a new line-up and formation so it's necessary for me to see them. Then I will have a clearer understanding of their strengths.

"I don't know when our game against them will be, but I doubt it'll be on Feb 9 because they play another big game, the Charity Shield, on Feb 5 so they can ask the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to play after that (Feb 9)."The Brunei Times

27 January 2012

Bruneians to start new S-League season against defending champions Tampines Rovers

DPMM FC will start their 2012 Singapore League (S-League) season with a mouthwatering clash against defending champions Tampines Rovers on Feb 9.

The tie which will mark the 2009 Singapore League Cup champions' return to the S-League after three years is one filled with poignancy but judging from past results also promise.

DPMM FC's players and officials will no doubt remember that their last competitive game was against the same opponents, a 2-2 draw on Sept 29, 2009. It would prove to be their final S-League match because of FIFA's now lifted suspension on the country; a move which meant Brunei's only professional football club were forced out of the league in their debut season despite just having four more games to play and briefly being in contention for the title.

The complete fixture list for 2012 as well as the venues for the 13-team S-League will only be released later this week.

The Feb 9 match was announced during last night's S-League season launch at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, which, according to ESPN, featured a fixture draw for the first time in the competition's 16-year history.

With experienced players such as striker Aleksandar Duric, goalkeeper Hassan Sunny as well as midfielders Ahmad Latiff and Fahrudin Mustafic all who play for the Singapore national team it is easy to see why Tampines are a force to be reckoned with.

DPMM FC's first meeting with the Stags on April 3, 2009, ended in a 1-1 draw at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore while the second on July 10, 2009, saw the hosts record a 2-1 win at the same venue.

The S-League is played in a triple round-robin format, where each team face the other three times and the champions crowned upon completion of the third round.

Speaking to The Brunei Times after the draw, club manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin didn't think DPMM FC were handed a tough draw.

"So far ... I don't think it will be a problem despite them being champions," he said in a telephone interview.

"Also, we will have a chance to watch them in action before the game," said Pg Waslimin, referring to next Sunday's Charity Shield match between Tampines and Home United.

Tampines beat Home United to the 2011 S-League title by a single point and will have a chance to stamp their authority over the reigning RHB Singapore Cup champions in the season's S-League curtain-raiser.

Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Zainudin Nordin hoped the entry of the two foreign sides, DPMM FC and Harimau Muda (Malaysia's Under-23 national team), would attract a good response from the public.

"This fixture draw marks the start of the (season) which promises lots of excitement, especially with the two new teams, DPMM FC and Harimau Muda, which we hope will entice the fans to come down to the stadiums," Zainudin said at the season launch last night.

S-League CEO Lim Chin also said the new season was shaping up to be one for the history books.

"It is great to kick off the 2012 season with this inaugural fixture draw, and especially so with all the club chairmen present," Lim was quoted as saying on ESPN.

"Their presence today (Thursday) affirms their clubs' conviction in making the upcoming season one of the most eagerly anticipated ever."The Brunei Times

MALAYSIA'S Ministry of Youth and Sports has not rule out the possibility of inviting Brunei to participate in the Malaysia League again in an effort to strengthen ties between the two countries through sports.

The country's minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, said the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) could create a mechanism towards Brunei's participation.

"Cooperation in sports not only involves government to government but also between sports associations of both countries," he told reporters after taking part in a golf friendly with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club here.

Brunei played in the Malaysian League (then known as Semi-Pro League) from 1989-1993 before joining the Singapore League in 2009.

Brunei last won the Malaysia Cup in 1999 after beating Sarawak 2-1 at the Merdeka Stadium.

Ahmad Shabery said the ministry would also invite Brunei to take in the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and the National Youth Day celebration.

Meanwhile, Pehin Dato Hj Hazair said his visit would help strengthen ties between the two ministries after signing a memorandum of understanding in Brunei last year.

"We have identified several areas in youth and sports that could be developed and expanded to strengthen our ties," said Pehin Dato Hj Hazair, who is heading a 15-member delegation to Kuala Lumpur, reciprocating a visit by Ahmad Shabery to Brunei last year.Bernama

26 January 2012

TODAY'S Singapore League (S-League) draw marks the next step in DPMM FC's return to the competition they were forced to leave three years ago.

FIFA's suspension on Brunei in 2009 meant the Singapore League Cup holders had to abandon their debut S-League season with only four games left.

Though fans of the Sultanate's only professional football side were left complaining about the ruling, they'll have plenty to celebrate about today when the 24-game schedule is made public.

The league is played in a triple round-robin format, where each team face the other three times and the champions crowned upon completion of the third round.

DPMM FC club manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin will be in Singapore for the draw, and though the S-League has already come up with the fixtures for the Feb 9 kick-off which will see 13 teams in action, the sides do not yet know who they will play.

"The fixture has already been made, but it is only numbers ... 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4 for example," explained DPMM FC team manager Ali Hj Momin yesterday.

"We don't know which number we are so Pg Waslimin will be there to pick it," he added.

Ali also pointed out that with the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) slated for Feb 25 to March 9, the club were looking at talking to the S-League to schedule away matches during that period.

A biennial tournament for Under-21 national teams in the region, the event is the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, who desired that an Under-21 football tournament be organised with the aim of increasing friendship and understanding between Southeast Asian youth through sports.

"The season starts on Feb 9 so there is still time for us to play at home (at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas)," said Ali.

"But during the HBT ... We are trying to negotiate with the S-League so maybe we can play away (games) during that period.

"We haven't asked them yet because we want to know what is the draw like first," added the former national player and 1999 Malaysia Cup winner.

The team manager also said that today's draw would not include Singapore Cup (RHB Cup) and League Cup matches which will be decided on at a later date.

DPMM FC are one of the two new teams in this season's league, the other being Malaysia's Harimau Muda (Malaysian Under-23 national team). The only other foreign team in the league are Albirex Niigata FC (Singapore), a satellite team of Albirex Niigata FC who source all their players from Japan.

The 2012 season was supposed to include 14 teams, but the number was cut to 13 after 2010 champions Etoile FC announced last week that they were pulling out because of financial reasons.

Etoile were a revelation in their debut season in 2010, winning not only the S-League but also the League Cup and finishing third in the RHB Cup an event which includes foreign sides.

DPMM FC have already stated their aim is a top-five finish but they know they have their work cut out for them since their last competitive game was on Sept 29, 2009 a 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC in the S-League.

They played a charity game against Thai Premier League side Chiangrai United FC last Wednesday, where a 2-1 win over a side filled with imports was hailed as a tactical achievement by coach Vjeran Simunic.

But the S-League, which will run until November and test their consistency and squad depth, will prove to be a tougher task.The Brunei Times

The fourth edition of the meet was supposed to run from Feb 25 to March 5, but the date change was announced during the first meeting of the tournament's executive committee at the Conference Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday.

Notes from the meeting have also revealed that the $1.7 million will be used for the teams' airfare, accommodation, food as well as transport and to cater for the needs of, among others, the technical committee.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is expected to grace the opening ceremony while His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office is slated to officiate at the closing ceremony. The HBT is the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, who desired that an Under-21 football tournament be organised with the aim of increasing friendship and understanding between Southeast Asian youth through sports.

Each country is allowed to bring five senior players, but only three of them can play each match.

Though all 11 countries have confirmed their entries, the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) is still waiting for Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia to finalise their 18-player list which should be in by today.

Because this year's contest will involve 11 teams which makes for a total of 28 games organisers have said that four games will have to be played before the Feb 25 official kick-off to ensure the regional event ends in time.

Three of the country's biggest stadiums, all in Berakas, will play host to the two-week football extravaganza.

Apart from the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, the Berakas Sports Complex and Balapan Track & Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas will also be used.

Brunei's team manager is counting on the public to be out in full force to show their support for the national side.

"The players have been training since August and there has been a lot of positives, in terms of play and management, since then," said Hj Feisal Hj Eusoff yesterday.

"We have shown in friendlies against foreign clubs that we are at their level so hopefully with the public's support we can do well in this tournament.

"The players are very happy with their welfare. Everything is being taken care of ... Food, housing, allowance," he added.

Though the tournament has been hosted in Brunei three times, the Sultanate has yet to reach the semi-finals.

The Malaysian national team have enjoyed a resurgence of late, winning the last two editions of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2009 and 2011 and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in 2010.

However, they have moved to downplay any suggestions that they are shoe-ins for the HBT title, a contest for Under-21 teams in the ASEAN region which the Sultanate hosts biennially.

Malaysia are only sending their Under-19 team (Harimau Muda B or Young Tigers B) a move made with an eye to the future.

Malaysian news agency Bernama reported last week that the team are only targeting a run to the semi-final at the Feb 25-March 5 HBT, with their sights set for the same finish at the Feb 17-21 Triangular Championship in Singapore.

Malaysia's decision to send their Under-19 squad to Brunei might bear fruit in the years to come as the nucleus of the team that won the 2009 SEA Games (for Under-23 players) and 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup all competed at the 2007 HBT.

Harimau Muda B's head coach Ismail Ibrahim told Bernama a semi-final berth was realistic as most of the players were new faces from the Bukit Jalil Sports School (SSBJ) and various President's Cup teams.

"Most of the players are new and they are still in the process of finding compatibility between one another," said Ismail.

"We hope several tournaments held in the current season can finalise their playing style. We started training since Dec 17 because some of them had just completed their exams ... their combination has yet to be established.

"I will bring 18 players to both tournaments and I want to see progress in their game," added the former Selangor footballer.

Players who have made a move out include Mohd Nazmi Faiz Mansor and D Saarvindran to the Young Tigers A (Under-21) while Ahmad Faizal Sumar and Muhd Nazrul Kamaruzzaman are now in the Selangor President's Cup squad.

However, the team will be reinforced with new players such as Muhd Ilham Amirullah Razali and Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah Pula from SSBJ and Mohd Akid Ramli from the Kelantan President's Cup squad.

Ismail also hoped the new players could adapt a robust style in both tournaments.

Malaysia's best achievement in the HBT was when they advanced to the semi-finals in 2002 and 2007. However, the team lost 1-0 to Indonesia and 2-0 to Myanmar in each instance.

All 10 ASEAN member nations, plus Timor Leste, have confirmed their participation in this year's HBT. Two-time winners, Thailand, return to Brunei as the HBT's reigning champions. They won the tournament by edging Myanmar 5-4 on penalties the last time the event was contested in 2007 and also beat Myanmar to lift the 2005 edition of the trophy.

20 January 2012

DPMM FC will have one less team to worry about after the 2010 Singapore League (S-League) and Singapore League Cup champions, French club Etoile FC, pulled out of the upcoming S-League.

The news came on Monday, when the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced that there will only be 13 teams, instead of the 14 originally announced, competing in the 2012 S-League season.

DPMM FC are aiming for a Top-5 finish in their return to the S-League and head coach Vjeran Simunic feels that there is still a lot to do despite Etoile FC's decision.

"All the teams in the S-League are strong this season. They (Etoile FC) won in their first season with new players, but last year they had already let go of all those players. Some of them have moved to local clubs though," said Simunic during an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

"I believe that every team will be equally matched because most local sides have naturalised players," he added.

"We are not sure how it will unfold, but everyone has got their own target in the league," continued the Croatian.

Simunic said DPMM FC have to work hard to at least get to the level that they were at two years ago.

"We need to be better than what we were before (in 2009). We will watch some tapes on how other teams play, but I trust in our players to get better," said Simunic.

"It won't be easy especially that our players haven't had professional training, but we will all try our best to achieve our target," added Simunic, who guided DPMM FC to be the first foreign team to lift the Singapore League Cup in 2009.

The team have started training since October and had their first competitive match on Wednesday night against Chiangrai United beating the visitors 2-1 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

Brazilian striker Rodrigo Grahl and local hitman Shahrazen Md Said both had their names on the scoresheet in the victory.

Etoile FC have decided to sit out for the season citing debts and liabilities carried forward from the previous management.

Etoile FC chairman, Hicham Moudden, said that the club and S-League management had held several meetings to look at many possibilities, but were unsuccessful in finding a solution so that they could continue to play in the new season.

Moudden added that the club's management will spend the next few months re-prioritising their resources and objectives in hopes to returning to the S-League when the right time comes.

The 13 teams in the 2012 S-League will compete in a two-round format, with each team playing 24 league games in total.

Harimau Muda of Malaysia will make their debut in the new season.

The Charity Shield between last year's S-League champions Tampines Rovers FC and Singapore Cup champions Home United FC will act as the curtain raiser for the new season on Feb 5 at Jalan Besar Stadium just before the new season commences on Feb 9.The Brunei Times

THERE has been no shortage of action in this year's DST League with a total of 166 goals from 37 games thus far.

The league will be taking a one-month break to give way to the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy, giving the local teams the opportunity to rest, regroup and work on their game.

LLRC FT are sitting comfortably at the top of Group A with 9 points.

They are also the league's highest scoring team with 23 goals, eight of which were a result of their 8-0 thrashing of Youngsters FC on Jan 9.

Their star player, Md Helmie Md Noorazmi currently leads the league in scoring with six goals to his name. Teammate Md Amirul Jafrey Md Norshaney follows closely behind as the third highest scorer in the league with five goals.

Jerudong FC's Md Bazli Md Said shares the recognition of being the league's current top scorer with Md Helmie.

LLRC FT coach Hj Affandi Hj Julaihi told The Brunei Times that they will be using the one-month break to keep their skills sharp.

"We took a week's break from training, and are currently training as usual. We'll continue to play friendlies as well," he said.

"The team still needs to improve during training. We need to be sharper with our finishing touches," he added.

Najip FC, meanwhile, are currently second in the group, with seven points after three matches.

Najip FC's manager Najip Hj Mokhtal said he did not expect the team to start their campaign so brightly.

"We will try to boost our confidence, and perform better. We are focused on joining the Super League. During the break, we will train harder, and will play a friendly against Besar FC on Saturday," said Najip.

Setia Perdana and BIBD FC, sitting in third and fourth place respectively, are piling the pressure on the group leaders.

BIBD's Ak Md Khairul Anwar Pg Md Salleh is currently the club's leading scorer, with four goals.

In Group B, giants QAF FC are currently top of the table with a maximum nine points.

Jerudong FC sits in second, having won all two of their matches so far.

They will be level on points with QAF FC if they win their next game.

Indera FC are top of the group C with six points, while IKLS and Sri Sentosa are second and third with four points each. All three teams have only played two matches so far.

Lying in the shadows is MS ABDB who have only one point after a 2-2 draw against MS PDB (Royal Brunei Police Force's Sports Council) on Dec 10, their only game to date.

Their coach Major (U) Suhaimi Jamali had declared, during the start of the season, that they are once again the team to beat.

Sharing his claim was Indera manager Rosdin Hj Aziz who predicted that MS ABDB and local giants QAF FC would dominate the new league.

In group D, last year's league winners, Majra United, are on top of the group with maximum points gained after two games.

"Majra's performance lately is something to be proud of. But, we do need to work harder to improve our performances. We must maintain our momentum of winning consistently to conquer group D," said Majra coach Hj Mahadi Hj Mat Zain.

Wijaya FC are second in the group, bouncing back from a 1-0 loss against Muara Vella FC in their first league game, before taking the next two to sit on six points.

Menglait FC and Besa FC should not be underestimated though. Both teams currently sit on three points but have two games in hand.

Discipline wise, only two red cards have been shown, with Perkasa's Ali Omar Hj Sulong and RBA FC's Md Nazrul Haddy Hj Bujang the only players sent off in the league so far. The Brunei Times

GOALS from Rodrigo Grahl and Shahrazen Said sealed a memorable come-from-behind 2-1 win for DPMM FC in a charity match against Thai Premier League (TPL) side Chiangrai United FC last night.

Grahl, the veteran Brazilian striker who was signed last week, became an instant hit at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas after cooly converting a penalty he earned in the 25th minute and celebrating by taking out a Brunei flag from his shin pad and displaying it to the approving crowd.

Continuing his jubilation with some silky samba steps, the 34-year-old looks certain to be a fan-favourite when the team take to the Feb 9 Singapore League (S-League).

"I was confident I would score," said Grahl of his idea to bring a flag along.

"I want to thank the fans, it was our first big game at this stadium and it was a good fight. I'm very happy to have scored in my first match here. Like I said before, this team is like my family.

"The Thais are a good team with many imports so this was good preparation for us," said the former Jubilo Iwata and Yokohama Marinos star, adding the win gave him confidence that the team can challenge for the S-League title.

But fortune wasn't always on DPMM FC's side.

The 2009 Singapore League Cup winners were set to get a run for their money against the Thais, especially since their fitness levels are arguably higher since they are near the top of the TPL and came with seven imports including six Brazilians.

DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic opted for the same line-up that played to a 0-0 draw against the Thais on Monday, and though it paid dividends in the first half, the second period proved to be a largely defensive affair once Shahrazen one of three forwards in a 3-4-3 formation was substituted at the start.

The game was the hosts' largest test since their 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC on Sept 29, 2009 their last S-League game since they were forced to pull out of the league due to FIFA's suspension on the Sultanate, which was lifted last May.

Though Brunei's only professional side started brightly with several penetrating forays into the Thai half and looked the hungrier of the two teams, it was the visitors who drew first blood after controversially capitalising on a lack of concentration in the 18th minute.

Ghanian striker Osman Basiru was judged to have fouled a Chiangrai player at the middle of the park, and while he and his teammates were busy arguing with the referee, the Thais strung a through ball to Wasan Nathasan who scored in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Mohd Wardun Yussof.

It only served to spring DPMM FC into life.

Prior to the game Simunic vowed that his team's spirit would be the difference. He was right.

A superb cross-field diagonal pass from right-winger Hj Muhd Subhi Abdilah Hj Bakir who was in his own half caught the entire Chiangrai defence napping, and goalkeeper Arthit Thanusorn was forced to rush out of his line and clatter with Grahl mid-air.

The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship representative stepped up to the spot and easily scored past Arthit's right.

It was 2-1 four minutes later when Shahrazen made up for some sloppy touches on the ball in the opening exchanges.

Diving low with a glancing header, he connected on a cross from vice-captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis and went on to celebrate with his trademark backflips.

But the introduction of midfielder Abang Norsilmy Abang Hj Taha in the second half saw a more defensive-minded DPMM FC take to the field, and though the 1999 Malaysia Cup winner was an effective guard in front of the back-line, the team's attack suffered.

Basiru was a shining light in the second half though; his pace, trickery and willingness to run at the Thai defence was rewarded with several free-kicks in dangerous positions.

However, the lack of quality service into the box by Rosmin, midfielder Ivan Jerkovic and left-back Yusof Mohd Salleh meant DPMM FC were unable to capitalise on the opportunities.

The Thais started to find more space, especially late in the second half but poor finishing and a spate of important tackles left-winger Azwan Muhd Salleh produced a key goal-line save late on prevented a draw.

Despite the lacklustre second-half, Simunic felt last night's win proved that their training for the S-League which started in October has paid fruit.

"Nobody in the world plays with three strikers ... It is very risky, but we did it," boasted the Croatian.

"I'm happy with how the team looked on the pitch. We played with big hearts and it was a fantastic tactical game.

"It was a big game against big opponents it was like Hyundai beating Mercedes-Benz!

"We played two games in three days but I didn't want to change any players unless someone died or got injured. We've been waiting four months for a game like this.

"Like what I've told you before, we must be patient with the team. But I'm happy with their fitness level. The Thais did not outrun us and we were equally matched.

"Shahrazen was injured and he was honest about it and said he needed to be changed. But it's nothing serious, just a knock.

"People in Brunei must be happy about how the locals played. They showed an excellent game, of course helped by the imports. Like I said before, if I don't have a strong local team, not even (having Barcelona star Lionel) Messi will help me," he added.

Proceeds from the game will be channelled to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Flood Victims in Thailand and Cambodia.The Brunei Times

VJERAN Simunic is banking on his players' spirit to see them through against Chiangrai United FC tonight.

Second in the Thai Premier League (TPL), Chiangrai are in town for a historical charity match against Brunei's only professional side where proceeds will be channelled to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Flood Victims in Thailand and Cambodia.

While the Thais are using the game at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas to keep them motivated during a month's break in the TPL, DPMM FC have other things on their mind.

The club hasn't had a match this big since their 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC on Sept 29, 2009 their last Singapore League (S-League) game before they were forced to pull out of the league due to FIFA's suspension on the Sultanate, which was lifted last May.

Though Chiangrai have come with a seven-import strong squad, Simunic's men were able to hold the visitors to a 0-0 draw in a low-key friendly at their base at the Jerudong Mini Stadium on Monday night.

It has given the Croatian a lot of cause for optimism.

"We will take to the field with big emotion and will show how we play football," declared the gutsy coach yesterday.

"We played against them last night (Monday) so we know they are strong. We are still in preparation for the S-League so we are not at the same level with them.

"But it was a very nice experience for us ... The local players do not often get chances to play foreign teams and imports like these," added Simunic of Chiangrai's six Brazilians and a Romanian.

The coach of the 2009 Singapore League Cup champions is expected to start with the same players as Monday's friendly, with Mohd Wardun Yussof once again the man with the gloves.

Wardun will have left-back Yusof Mohd Salleh, Brazilian centre-back Tales Ricarte dos Santos and right-back Shahrulrizal Hj Abd Rahman in front of him, with the midfield filled with Azwan Muhd Salleh on the left and Hj Muhd Subhi Abdilah Hj Bakir on the right.

Fan-favourite Ivan Jerkovic and vice-captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis are expected to play in the centre of the park, with a three-man attack slotting the experienced Brazilian Rodrigo Gral in the middle and Ghanian Osman Basiru and Shahrazen Said on the left and right respectively.

It is the same line-up Simunic used on Monday and he has said he will stick to it tonight a move aimed at giving him a better understanding of how his first-11 can play when the S-League kicks off on Feb 9.

The club's talismanic captain and rock in defence Pg Sallehuddin Pg Hj Damit is still recovering from injury, as is left-winger Sairol Hj Sahri.

Simunic's counterpart, Stefano Cugurra Teco, is also counting on an electrifying atmosphere at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium to spur his players on though readily admitted DPMM FC have more reason to be fired up.

"We had some chances on Monday night ... the tie was a normal result for us," said the Brazilian who won the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) in 1984 and 1986 with AS Roma and again in 1988, 1989 and 1991 with Sampdoria.

"But with the crowd and the atmosphere at the national stadium, I am sure we will get a better performance from both teams.

"I know DPMM FC have not played for a long time so they will be full of motivation.

"This is a very good chance for us to prepare for our last league game on Jan 28 against (TPL champions) Buriram PEA FC, and I hope we will get a good response from the Thai public in Brunei.

"DPMM FC are a good team with a lot of good players," added the 1991 Serie A champion with Sampdoria.

When pressed, the Brazilian said he was impressed with his compatriot dos Santos as well as Basiru, Rosmin and Shahrazen.

Tickets will be on sale at the venue starting from 9am today.

They can also be obtained from the DPMM FC office at Suite 1, Level 1, Halimatul Sa'adiah Building, Gadong (above Maybank Gadong).

17 January 2012

THE national team for next month's Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) will play a friendly against Thai Premier League (TPL) side Chiangrai United FC this afternoon.

The side's most crucial warm-up match in their build-up to the Feb 25-March 5 tournament, the game will kick off at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas at 5pm.

Though Kwon Oh-son said he doesn't know much about Chiangrai, he agreed it will be a good test for his players. Their biggest friendly before this was a 3-2 loss to DPMM FC last month, making today's game all the more important.

"I've got no information about the Thai side, but I will get some later and then arrange the team tomorrow," said the national coach last night.

"We weren't sure who to field as goalkeeper before, but now we've decided to go with Md Fakhrul Zulhazmi Yussof," added the South Korean.

Chiangrai will also play a charity match against DPMM FC at the same venue tomorrow night.

Proceeds from the tickets, which are priced at $5 each, will be channelled to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Flood Victims in Thailand and Cambodia.The Brunei Times

15 January 2012

PROBABLY noone understands the importance of DPMM FC's charity match against Thai Premier League (TPL) side Chiangrai United FC on Wednesday night more than Rodrigo Gral.

The Brazilian striker has become DPMM FC's fourth and last signing, with the only professional football club in the country now in their final stages of preparation for their second Singapore League (S-League) campaign on Feb 9.

The journeyed 34-year-old hitman who started his career together with ex-Barcelona and former AC Milan star Ronaldinho in the Gremio youth team in the 1990s believes that Chiangrai will be stern test of the team's character.

Having used to lace up for Japanese outfits Jubilo Iwata and Yokohama Marinos, Gral is well-versed in Asian football.

His first interview with The Brunei Times since the club announced his signing last week, Gral also took the opportunity to express his delight in playing for the 2009 Singapore League Cup champions.

"We've all worked hard to prepare for the league ... (so) it's a good test for the team to see how strong and competitive we are," said Gral after yesterday's training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium in Jerudong.

"I've had no problems fitting in the team football is the same in every country. This is a very good club and the players have all helped me adjust.

"I've got no family so they are like my family. My family is the team and Simunic (coach Vjeran Simunic) has really helped me settle.

"I also like playing with Osman (striker Osman Basiru) and Ronaldo," added Gral, who played for his country at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Though Brunei might have it's own Samuel Eto'o Simunic once compared striker Abu Bakar Mahari to the Cameroonian legend this was the first time talk had turned to Ronaldo.

"You know ... Ronaldo. The No 22 (Shahrazen Said)," said Gral.

"I call him Ronaldo because I think they have the same face. And yes, the Brazilian Ronaldo not the one from Portugal," he clarified with a grin.

The game at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas will be the team's biggest test since Sept 29, 2009 when they faced off against Tampines Rovers FC in a S-League match which ended 2-2.

Football Association of Singapore (FAS) had to dismiss DPMM FC the next month because of the FIFA suspension on Brunei, causing the club to release all its players.

Now that the Sultanate is back in international football, and DPMM FC are back in the S-League, local football fans have been buzzing with excitement ahead of the Feb 9 kick-off.

The long layover was a fact that Tales Ricarte dos Santos was quick to point out.

"The team haven't played against a professional club for two years so the friendly is good for the group since we'll get used to playing together and moving around in our positions that's very important," stressed the defender.

"We need to play hard games like these because the league is starting next month.

"My English is not very good, but everyday, I'm learning a new word and understanding how my teammates play ... Whether they like to get a pass fast or slow, things like that," added the Brazilian.

Another player who is relishing Wednesday's match is Ivan Jerkovic, the Croatian midfielder who was forced to leave the club after the FIFA suspension but has since returned to a team he never really stopped thinking about.

Jerkovic, who also has experience playing in Indonesia, warned that Thai teams shouldn't be taken lightly.

"I've known Thai teams from before and I can say that they are at the top level in this region," said Jerkovic, who turned 33 on Friday.

"We must be compact and, as usual, play on the counter-attack.

"We all have to stay behind the ball because they are good technically and can keep possession for 90 minutes," he added.

Though Basiru might not have had much to say, his comments are nothing new.

"We need friendly games like these because we need to play against stronger teams," said the striker.

"The friendlies that we usually play, we win a lot," added the Ghanaian, referring to the spate of large wins over local sides that DPMM FC have had to contend with before this.

Proceeds from the tickets, which are priced at $5 each, will be channelled to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Flood Victims in Thailand and Cambodia.The Brunei Times

"Although we won, we still need to make further improvements, especially in our midfield and forward force. We had the tempo in certain times of the game, but we lost composure and flow of play at other times. This is what our team needs to work on for the next game," he said.

The win means that Wijaya FC's hope of booking a berth in the DST Super League is still within their grasp.

Lun Bawang however, are at the bottom of the table without a single point to their name.

Group D Miisa United will take on Najip FC at the Berakas Sports Complex at 8.15 pm tonight.

Adi, Reduan, Mohd Hendra Azam and Mohd Najib named in Brunei's HBT team

EXPECT to see these four names for many more years to come.

Kwon Oh-son yesterday told The Brunei Times he has picked striker Adi Said, defender Reduan Hj Petara as well as midfielders Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris and Mohd Najib Hj Tarif as four of the country's overage players at next month's Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT).

Hosted biennially by Brunei, the Under-21 competition for ASEAN countries which all member nations plus Timor Leste have confirmed their participation allows each team to field five overage players, with the South Korean coach still undecided as to who to don the gloves.

Though finding a goalkeeper might be a problem ahead of the Feb 25-March 5 event, Kwon's decision to choose the rest of the players took care of itself.

The four played together at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta, where Brunei picked up a win, a draw and two losses.

Tellingly, all five goals scored last November came from these players Adi netted three goals while Mohd Najib and Reduan each bagged one.

Mohd Hendra Azam might not have found the net in the Indonesian capital, but he was an integral cog in the team's midfield and proved his worth with his discipline and calmness.

Adi was also a part of the Borneo Games team that won silver in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, last month making it a busy past few months for the 21-year-old hitman.

Kwon who said that a full squad would be announced shortly is counting on the quartet's understanding and experience to be the difference and hopefully lead the country past the group stage for the first time.

This year marks the first time organisers are introducing the overage competitors rule, with previous editions in 2007, 2005 and 2002 limited to Under-21 players.

A biennial tournament, the HBT is the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, who desired that an Under-21 football tournament be organised with the aim of increasing friendship and understanding between Southeast Asian youth through sports.

Thailand are the tournament's defending champions after squeezing past Myanmar 5-4 on penalties the last time the event was contested in 2007.

Thailand also beat Myanmar to lift the 2005 edition of the trophy while Indonesia won the inaugural competition back in 2002.

HAVING signed Samba hitman Rodrigo Gral to complete their import quota, DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic said the team now have "the ideal foreign players" for the new Singapore League (S-League) season.

But, the four import players will not be enough for according to the Croatian it is the local players that will make or break their season in the S-League, which kicks off on Feb 9.

"We hope we have chosen the ideal foreign players, but my focus remains on the local players. If I don't have a strong local team, not even (having Barcelona star Lionel) Messi will help me," Simunic told reporters at a pre-season Press conference at the Singapore Sports School on Wednesday.

"Gral is a very good player, he scored in the friendly earlier," Simunic told The Brunei Times before leaving for Singapore last week. The Croatian was referring to DPMM FC's friendly against the MS Police, whom they thrashed 5-0.

While expectations for Gral who graduated from the Gremio youth ranks in Brazil and starred for Japanese giants Jubilo Iwata and Yokohama Marinos will be high, Simunic has called for patience with the 34-year-old striker.

"Rodrigo has looked good in training ... but his fitness levels are not at 100 per cent and he played in an amateur league (last season)."

Jerkovic was a fan favourite in his previous spell with DPMM FC, but the Croatian coach also urged caution with the midfielder, who returns after a season with S-League's SAF FC, although he expected the playmaker to be a key player for the team once he's back to full fitness.

"Jerkovic is also not 100 per cent fit yet, (but I expect he) will play a key role," Simunic said in Singapore.

Having impressed many by winning the Singapore League Cup in 2009, before world governing body FIFA hit them with a two-year ban, DPMM FC are targeting a Top 5 finish as they prepare to return to professional football.

DPMM FC last played in Singapore's top flight in 2009, and having now served that suspension, the Brunei team have accepted the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) invitation to rejoin the S-League, and are aiming high once again.

"In 2009, we won the League Cup and were third in the league (when we were banned by FIFA)," team manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin said at a Singapore Press conference this week.

"(Finishing in the) Top 5 seems to be a realistic target."

The FAS last week announced a slew of changes to the S-League, including a new CEO in former SAF FC chairman Lim Chin, the inclusion of the Harimau Muda Malaysia's national Under-23 side and a new format for the 14-team 2012 season, where it will shift from a three-round, 33-match season per team, to a two-round, 26-match season.

Simunic welcomed the changes.

"There is also the Singapore Cup and League Cup, which will add up to over 30 matches, which is just nice. It's definitely better for the players," he said.

"And with the addition of the Malaysian side (Harimau Muda), it will be very interesting for fans."The Brunei Times

HIS Royal Highness Prince HjAl-MuhtadeeBillah yesterday graced the official signing ceremony of DPMM FC's return into the 2012 season of the Singapore-League.

DPMM FC will be among two new teams competing in the league, scheduled to kick off in early February.

The other new team joining the S-League is Malaysia's HarimauMuda.

According to a report by channelnewsasia, the Bruneian side is targetting a top five finish in the 14-team league.

DPMM FC played in the S-League in 2009 before making history as the first foreign team to win the League Cup.

The club will play its home matches at the HassanalBolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.His Royal Highness also consented to watch the Malaysia Super League Match between Singapore Lion XII against Kelantan at the JalanBesar Stadium in the evening.

His Royal Highness was presented a Singapore XII jersey by ZainuddinNordin, the President of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) at halftime.

Also present at the stadium were His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik and Prince Abdul Qawi.

The Brunei Times

10 January 2012

DPMM FC fans will get a first-hand look at the club's new signings next Wednesday when they play a charity match against Thai Premier League (TPL) side Chiangrai United FC.

Though midfield maestro Ivan Jerkovic needs no introduction, the other three imports for the upcoming Singapore League (S-League) season are largely unknowns in the Sultanate.

Brazilian defender Tales Ricarte dos Santos and Ghanaian striker Osman Basiru will be out to impress when they take to the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas at 8.15pm on Dec 18, but all eyes will be on dos Santos's compatriot Rodrigo Gral.

It is understood the striker has agreed to play for Brunei's only professional football club, though he has yet to put pen to paper.

Having started his career together with ex-Barcelona and former AC Milan star Ronaldinho in the Gremio youth team in the 1990s, the 34-year-old Gral was also part of the Brazil Under-23 squad that competed in the 2004 Olympics in Greece. He also represented Brazil at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria, where he netted once.

Gral is no stranger to Asia having played for Japanese outfits Jubilo Iwata and Yokohama Marinos.

DPMM FC confirmed the charity match, and the probable line-up, during a Press conference at their office in Gadong yesterday.

Proceeds from the tickets, which are priced at $5 each, will be channelled to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Flood Victims in Thailand and Cambodia.

Promising youngsters Ak Mohd Fakharrazi Pg Hj Hassan and Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris, both who were in the national Under-23 team at November's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta, are also set to feature.

The Brunei Times first broke the news of the friendly game in its Dec 30 edition.

While it might help give the club's fans something to finally cheer about, DPMM FC know they have to play more matches against quality opposition before they can say they are truly prepared for the Feb 9 S-League.

After all, the game will be the first real test of their standard since their last competitive tie, a 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC in the S-League on Sept 29, 2009.

It can be argued that next Wednesday's match is much more important.

Vjeran Simunic has yet to see how his imports can face up against quality teams, and the fact that his local players have been through a lengthy lay-off notwithstanding their time in the local football leagues will also be on top of his mind.

As the Croatian will undoubtedly agree, the results will not be important what he learns about his team will be.

The 2009 Singapore League Cup champions, DPMM FC were not allowed to complete their fairy-tale debut season in the S-League after FIFA suspended Brunei in October 2009.

But since their re-admission into the world football fraternity last May, DPMM FC have had to make do with friendlies against local sides, with their pre-season preparations starting in October.

Simunic who like Jerkovic, made a sensational return to the club last year maintained the friendlies have never been a true test of the team's potential.

Chiangrai United, though, will be just that.

Founded in 2009, the team won promotion to the TPL last season when they finished third in the Thai Division 1 the previous season.

According to the TPL website, Chiangrai United are currently ninth in the 18-team table with 27 points from 21 games.

Their striker Wasan Nathasan who is the league's third best scorer with 17 goals looks to be their biggest threat, though their three Brazilian players and one Romanian import might also prove to be a problem.The Brunei Times

LLRC FT just can't stop scoring. Having beaten Perkasa 11-1 on Dec 26, LLRC FT won big again yesterday thrashing Youngsters FC 8-0 in Group A at the Berakas Sports Complex yesterday.

The victory allows LLRC FT to remain at the summit of Group A of the DST National League. As for Youngsters FC, they are now in last place.

LLRC FC led the game by 4-0 in the first half, before scoring another four after the break. LLRC FC players, Md Helmie Md Noorazmi and Md Amirul Jafrey Md Norshaney each completed a hat-trick. Md Helmie scored his third goal in the 88th minute and Md Amirul Jafrey in the 55th minute.

The other two goals for LLRC FC were scored by Md Shah Hafiz Kifli in the 38th minute and Amy Amizan Gudang in the 59th minute.

In an interview with the media, LLRC FC coach, Hj Affandi Hj Julaihi said: "The condition of the field right now is affected by the wet weather. Maybe when the field is in better condition, we can see better how other players are playing because in terms of ball control we have not been able to improve it during training," said Hj Affandi.

After yesterday's match, LLRC FC will be given a one-week break before resuming with their training, said Hj Affandi.

Hj Affandi said in yesterday's match the players' focus may have shifted slightly as they were used to playing at night, "but they were able to do it".

According to him, the team will continue to work on their attacking and finishing as well as stamina.

08 January 2012

RIMBA STAR's HJ Md Ameerul Asharaf Hj Hassan's late equaliser in injury time destroyed Perda's hopes of gaining maximum points, as both teams were held to a 2-2 draw in their DST League Group C match last night at the Berakas Sports Complex in Berakas.

A defensive error by Perda led to an own goal with Abd Aziz Jefrey putting the ball in his own net in the third minute of the game.

Caught under pressure, Perda launched their attacking play through captain Suni Mat Jerah who was constantly shouting out orders to his team mates.

Perda finally equalised in the 50th minute of the game, courtesy of a goal from Hj Md Hazmie Hj Busrah.

A floated cross from the right flank was met by Suni Mat Jerah's header which dropped in the centre of the box, resulting in a scramble of shots before Hj Md Hazmie fired the ball into the back of the net, much to the delight of Perda's fans who made themselves heard throughout the 90 minutes of play.

Perda gained the lead through an Anuar Suhaili free kick attempt, making the score 2-1 by the 81st minute.

The last ten minutes saw Perda switching their tactics to an ultra defensive mode.

The adjustment was, however, unsuccessful as Rimba Star managed to equalise in the dying minutes of the game, courtesy of a counter attack approach, which was comfortably executed by Hj Md Ameerul.

Despite the scoreline, the match itself was not played in an attractive manner.

Both teams still needed to improve their performances in terms of finishing, ball control, creativity, and technique.

The most notable player of last night's match would be Suni Mat Jerah, who once wore the famous No 18 jersey for Brunei in the Malaysian League during the 90s.

His fitness level was impressive but failed to help generate goals on several occasions due to fellow Perda teammates failing to connect with his vision of play.

In a post match interview with The Brunei Times, Perda's coach, Hj Murni Ismail said, "From our point of view, it was a balanced match, but we failed to maintain the lead in the final minutes of the game, and that was very dissapointing."

Rimba Star coach Yassin Hj Mohd Noor echoed similar sentiments but added that his team just lacked the finishing touch.

"I am quite satisfied in overall terms. But in terms of our attack, we were not efficient," said the coach.

"We could have scored a lot of goals from the first minute of the game. We will have to train harder for our next game, Insya Allah, but it also depends on the players will to win."The Brunei Times

07 January 2012

Brunei's only professional football club have signed Brazilian striker Rodrigo Gral, according to a statement on DPMM FC's official website yesterday.

DPMM FC will finally see action when the 14-team Singapore League (S-League) kicks off on Feb 9.

FIFA's two-year suspension on Brunei, which was only lifted in May last year, meant that DPMM FC have not played a competitive game since their 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC in the S-League on Sept 29, 2009.

To prepare for the new S-League season, the team announced on Dec 1 that they had signed four import players Brazilian defender Tales Ricarte dos Santos, Irish midfielder George O'Callaghan, Ghanaian striker Osman Basiru and Croatian attacking midfielder Ivan Jerkovic to strengthen the squad.

All S-League sides are allowed four import players.

But, on Jan 2 the team announced that Gral is training with them despite having maxed out their quota of import players.

DPMM FC then confirmed yesterday that they have signed Gral, saying on their website: "DPMM FC sign Brazilian star Rodrigo Gral from Bahia FC of the Brazilian Serie A."

Gral arrived in the Sultanate just last week and has been training with the team at the Jerudong Mini Stadium, in Jerudong.

The pint-sized (176cm and 70kg) striker, who relies on his speed in the box to score, started his career together with ex-Barcelona and former AC Milan star Ronaldinho in Gremio youth team in the 1990s.

The 34-year-old Gral represented Brazil at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and even had a goal to his name in the Nigeria tournament which he scored against Zambia in the group stages.

He was also part of the Brazil Under-23 squad that competed in the 2004 Olympics in Greece.

He spent five years from 2001 to 2006 in Japan, playing with Jubilo Iwata, where he scored a total of 56 goals in four seasons, before moving to Yokohama Marinos and Omiya Ardija.

The Brazilian hitman averaged one goal every two matches during his time in the Land of the Rising Sun.

He then moved to Qatar playing for Al-Khor Sports Club (2007-2009) and Al-Sadd for the next three years before returning to Brazil to play for Brazilian side Bahia EC.

DPMM FC have started their pre-season preparations since October, but have had to settle for friendly matches against local sides.

They had played various friendlies against the Royal Brunei Armed Forces' Sports Council (MS ABDB) and the Under-21 national team, who are preparing for the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) slated for next month.

They will finally get to test the true potential of the team with a friendly at home against Thai Premier League team, Chiangrai United, on Jan 18. The Brunei Times

05 January 2012

THE DST National League has produced a number of 'surprise' teams who are making their mark in the three-month old season

One such team is Najip FC who currently sit in second place in group A of the league after humbling BIBD FC 3-2 on Tuesday.

"To be honest, we were not confident of winning the game two nights ago because BIBD FC are a strong team. And although we won, we still need to improve in the areas of central defense," said Najip FC manager Md Najib Mokhtal.

"We will be hoping to gain another win on Jan 14," he said, adding that their ultimate aim for the new year is to qualify for the DST National Super League.

Najip FC was established in 2009, and started out as a futsal club.

This is their first time competing in a local football league.

Another team to keep an eye on are Tunas FC, currently third behind giants QAF FC and Jerudong FC in group B.

According to team manager Awg Bujang, the Tutong based club have been around for almost twenty years.

"We have produced youth players for two decades now. In the past, we have produced players who have been called up to represent Brunei, such as Hj Rosaidi Hj Khamis, and Singapore League Cup 2009 medalist, Rosmin Hj Khamis."

"Our aim in the league is to have match practice and development for youth football players from Tutong, who can represent the district for national competitions held annually," he explained.

Sri Sentosa currently sits in second in group C and are currently playing under a new management system.

"To be honest, our game play in the first two matches was far from perfect. We will continue to conduct training from time to time, and hopefully we will be able to perform well against the more established teams in group C," said Rosirwan Hj Abu Bakar, the head coach of the team established in 2008.

"Our target is to qualify for the super league," he added.

Last but not least, KB/Lumut based team LLRC FT have been making positive headlines, gaining a maximum six points after two league games.

"So far so good. We bagged all three points for both games played. We hope that we will be able to beat Youngster FC in the next game. If Kilanas FC can beat them, so can we," said assistant manager Ahmad Sazarin.

A contributer to their success could be the gelling of the team as they have maintained their pool of players since the creation of the club in 2007.

They did, however, introduce five youth players whom the assistant manager claims are getting more united by the day.

He then raised concerns on the status of league games in January.

"I heard that we will have a break from league games for one and a half months to make way for the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy. I hope that the organisers can just let us finish our remaining league games, as one month is a very long time for any team to wait."

04 January 2012

NAJIP FC started their new year campaign on a strong note, as they defeated BIBD FC 3-2 in their DST National league Group A match up at the Balapan Sports Complex last night.

Najip FC started the game confidently and for good reason.

They quickly broke the deadlock in just the 5th minute of the match, courtesy of a goal from Md Ali Shofian Hj Akbar.

Possession wise, it was BIBD FC who controlled the game, but solid defence and a counter attack approach to the game proved effective for Najip FC.

Nonetheless, Ak Md Khairul equalised for BIBD FC in the 12th minute

Both teams played pretty much evenly by this time, lady luck would however stand on Najip FC's side.

Md Ali Shofian would scored his second goal of the game with a delightful diving header in the 37th minute to once again put his team ahead.

The second half started with BIBD FC once again asserting control on possession of the game, but rigid defending from Najip FC prevented BIBD from breaking their defensive line.

BIBD FC were left stunned in the 69th minute, when Najip FC's Hj Arip Hj Idup scored a scorching long range goal from some 30 metres outside the penalty box.

The bankers, however, received a new light of hope when a rare defensive slip from Najip FC enabled Ak Md Khairul Anwar to score his second goal in the 82nd minute of the game.

It was also his fifth goal of the season.

Caught under pressure, BIBD FC overload on their attack in the last ten minutes of the game, but luck was not be on their side as they missed a golden opportunity in the dying minutes of the game when Ak Md Khairul Anwar shot the ball wide above the goal.

BIBD will be left disappointed with the score, but judging from their performance last night, they still look like strong contenders to qualify for the prestigious DST Super League.

RBA FC will take on Besa FC on Friday at the Berakas Sports Complex while Perkasa will look to impress Setia Perdana on the same day at the Balapan Track and Field.

KWON Oh-son is confident that Brunei can reach the semi-finals of next month's Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT).

The national coach is undaunted by the fact that the Sultanate has never made it past the group stage of the competition for Under-21 teams in the Asean region despite hosting it for three times.

He also insisted his team will be able to give as good as they get during the Feb 25 - March 3 tournament.

"We will be targeting a semi-final berth," said Kwon recently.

"The boys are not intimidated playing against teams like Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

"We will continue to train harder and improve, and it is not impossible that we will manage to give a fight to the other international teams," he added.

Having won the silver medal in the recent Borneo Games, the team is in high spirits.

Though he feels the team has made rapid progress in their football development, Kwon, who has been in charge for seven years, believes his players need to gain more experience by competing in international friendlies and tournaments.

The Sultanate's Under-21 team haven't had many friendlies and got their only "international" matches earlier this month.

They used the 4th Borneo Games at Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, as a warm-up and returned home from the Dec 4-11 biennial event with a silver medal.

They started the Games with a 2-0 win over Sarawak, but lost to eventual champions East Kalimantan 2-1 before bouncing back for a 2-1 victory over South Kalimantan to finish in second place.

"Most of the squad played during the Borneo Games success, but we need to remain focused, and train harder," said the coach.

"They are tired from all the intensive training, but mentally and psychologically, they will benefit and will see improvements in their performances.

"In terms of mentality, psychology and team play, I am delighted with their progress. The team are united, and we work as one," he added.

"These boys love football. They have massive potential and they have surprised me by making rapid progress since we started training in September.

"I would want to continue training these players harder in the coming years, and be on par with the standards of the regional national teams."

Asked if Bruneians can reach the standard and talent that South Korea has, the coach replied in a diplomatic manner.

"There are a lot of professional clubs and corporate investments in South Korea Brunei only has one professional club (DPMM FC)," he pointed out.

But the opportunities for Brunei to progress is highly possible."

A biennial tournament, the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy is the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, who desired that an Under-21 football tournament be organised with the aim of increasing friendship and understanding between Southeast Asian youth through sports.

Thailand are the tournament's defending champions after squeezing past Myanmar 5-4 on penalties the last time the event was contested in 2007.

Thailand also beat Myanmar to lift the 2005 edition of the trophy while Indonesia won the inaugural competition in 2002.The Brunei Times

THE Cambodian Under-21 football team looks set to compete in next month's Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT).

The Phnom Penh Post last week reported that the team have not had a rest for the Christmas holidays as they have been preparing for the biennial tournament which the Sultanate hosts, with this year's edition slated for Feb 25 - March 3.

The news means that three teams are poised to play at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas for what will be the biggest football date on the local calendar the other two countries being Brunei and Malaysia.

According to the report which was published last Monday (Dec 26), Cambodia's squad of 33 have been training at the National Football Centre in Cheng Meng on the outskirts of Phnom Penh under the guidance of S Korean head coach Lee Tae Hoon.

Ieng Saknida, who has returned to his position as Lee's assistant coach after completing a stint in the Asian Football Confederation's coaching elite program in Kuala Lumpur, said the squad had been trimmed to 25 players which would be whittled down to 18 for the trip to Bandar Seri Begawan.

"(Lee) will also make some changes following his observations during the upcoming matches of the Hun Sen Cup in Phnom Penh," the assistant coach said.

Tournament rules allow each team to field five players over the age of 21.

The Asean Football Federation's website said that the champions will collect B$20,000 (US$15,500) with B$10,000 for the runners-up and the third-placed side receiving B$5,000.

The competition is in its fourth edition but was skipped in 2009 following Brunei's suspension by FIFA because of government interference - a decision which was lifted last May.

03 January 2012

Yee Chun LeongBANDAR SERI BEGAWANTuesday, January 3, 2012DPMM FC, who are returning to the Singapore League (S-League) next month, could be attacking to a samba beat, despite saying they have already filled their import quota.Brunei's only professional football club will finally see action when the S-League kicks off on Feb 9. FIFA's two-year suspension on Brunei, which was only lifted in May last year, meant that DPMM FC have not played a competitive game since their 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC in the S-League on Sept 29, 2009.Preparing for their return to the S-League, DPMM FC have maxed out their quota of import players with Brazilian defender Tales Ricarte dos Santos, Irish midfielder George O'Callaghan, Ghanaian striker Osman Basiru and Croatian attacking midfielder Ivan Jerkovic.But, there was an unfamiliar face at the team's training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday. Brazilian striker Rodrigo Gral is currently on trial with the team and is trying to make his way onto the DPMM FC roster. Yesterday was only his second training session with the team, but he had settled down quickly."The team have good techniques and the players are very fast. It was quite a surprise for me actually, but I already expected a good team here in Brunei," said Gral during an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday."Playing here is quite similar to being in Qatar where the weather is hot and humid just like in Brunei. There is also no problem with the local food since I'm used to eating rice and having tea from my playing days in Japan," he added.The pint-sized (176cm and 70kg) striker relies on his speed in the box to score. The 34-year-old Brazilian started his career together with ex-Barcelona and -AC Milan attacking midfielder Ronaldinho in Gremio youth teams in the 1990s.Gral represented Brazil at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and even had a goal to his name in the Nigeria tournament which he scored against Zambia in the group stages. He was also part of the Brazil Under-23 squad that competed in the 2004 Olympics in Greece.He spent five years playing in Japan with Jubilo Iwata and then Yokohama Marinos from 2001 to 2006 and averaged one goal every two matches during his time in the Land of the Rising Sun.He then moved on to play in Qatar for the next three years before returning to Brazil to play for Brazilian Football Championship Second Division side Bahia EC.Next on the calendar for DPMM FC will be a friendly at home against Thai Premier League team, Chiangrai United, on Jan 18 to further prepare for the S-League.